A Simple Guide to CRISPR

In the short time since the introduction of CRISPR technology in 1987, it has proved to be a valuable tool. In 2018, there were over 17,000 publications on CRISPR gene editing technology compared to seven years earlier when there were less than 100 publications. The future is bright in how CRISPR will impact research, treatments, and cures. VOX recently published, A simple guide to CRISPR, one of the biggest science stories of the decade, an article that provides a concise history of CRISPR, including a short video on how CRISPR works.

5 Applications of CRISPR

The article also shares examples of CRISPR use in biomedical research as well as agriculture and goes onto highlight five things for which CRISPR can used. Each one comes with an explanation and examples:

Edit crops to be more nutritious

New tools to stop genetic diseases

Powerful new antibiotics and antivirals

Gene drives that alter entire species

Creating "designer babies"

At the conclusion of the VOX article are some cautionary insights on editing the human genome. The article is a quick read and can help bring readers up-to-speed on CRISPR.